Jeanette Lawrensen

Jeanette Marlyes Lawrensen, 96, of Vermillion, SD, passed away at home on Friday, February 6, 2026. Her funeral service will be held at 2 PM Thursday, February 12, at Hansen Funeral Home in Vermillion. Visitation will begin one hour prior.

Jeanette was born May 17,1929, to Herman and Mrytle (Baruth) Meier at Letcher, SD. She attended Cuthbert School and graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1947 as valedictorian. After high school she worked as a receptionist at McKie Ford dealership in Sioux Falls. While in Sioux Falls she was known to “cut a rug”, being she was quite at dancer, at the Arkota Ballroom. This is where she would meet the love of her life, Burton, that ultimately resulted in a 70+ year union. She was a homemaker and worked as a secretary/receptionist at the University of South Dakota with her last 19 years of employment in the Department of Dental Hygiene.

On July 11,1953, Jeanette was united in marriage to Burton Lawrensen at the Woonsocket Methodist Church in Woonsocket, SD. From this union came two children, Bruce and Terri. The family resided in several areas of rural Burbank, their final home in the rural area was the renovated Greenfield Store in Greenfield. They moved into Vermillion in 1993.

Jeanette was a member of Dalesburg Lutheran Church. She served as WELCA treasurer as well as on the Service and Hospitality Committee.

She is survived by her son, Bruce Lawrensen of Noble, OK; daughter Terri Johnson of Tea, SD; grandson, Bradley Johnson of Tea, SD; and great-granddaughter, Makaylah.

Preceding her in death were her husband, parents Herman and Mrytle Meier, daughter-in-law Cynthia Lawrensen, and son-in-law Leroy Johnson.